Knitting-machine.



PATENTED JULY 12, 1904.

J. E. ROWE. KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 4. 189s.

1NVENTDR.

N0 MODEL.

, Patented July 12, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

lJAMES E. ROVE, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. JENCKES MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

KNlTTlNG-IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,043, dated July 12, 1904.

Original application iiled November 20, 1895, Serial No. 569 ,583. Divided and this application filed April 4, 1896. Serial No. 586,152. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES E. Rown, of the city of Pawtucket, county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following specification, taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, to he a full, clear, and eX- act description thereof.

The present application is a divisional case from my application, Serial No. 569,583, filed November 20, 1895, and the invention included herein relates more especially to an eXtra-thread mechanism for use in connection with knitting-machines which are used for knitting stockings.

In knitting-machines of the class referred to it is desirable to use an eXtra thread on the heel and toe; and it is the object of this invention to provide a mechanism which shall be simple in construction and positive and accurate in action for inserting and withdrawing said eXtra thread at the proper times.

To that end the invention consists of the features and combination hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figures l and 2 are perspective views of one form of mechanism embodying the present improvements. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the hub KG. Fig. 4C is a perspective of a modiiied form of gripping-jaw.

pin 71:2, provided with a V-shaped slot in one side, with the point of the V at the axis of the pin, is secured inside the tube 7:2 and forms a guide for the thread. Secured in the tube below the pin 71:2 is a plug F, provided with a hole through which the thread passes. Loosely mounted on the tube 7n is a cap or thread-carrier 7:5, provided at its lower end with a iiange 7o, which rests on the iange 704, and at its top with a radial slot 7:7, having an offset portion 7':S at its outer end for engaging the eXtra thread. The cap 7: also has a slot 7; in its periphery for a purpose to be described. The cap is held in place on the tube by a ring 7:1, secured to the arm K5. The sleeve 7o is rotated at the proper time by the segmental gear L', secured to a rock-shaft L and engaging pinion 1. The rock-shaft L is mounted in suitable bearings in the arm K5,

and is operated at the proper times, as hereinafter described, by any suitable mechanism. (Not shown.)

Secured to the rock-shaft L above the arm K5 is an arm Z, connected, by means of the link Z, to a lever Z2, pivoted at Z10 to an arm Z7. The arm Z7 carries at its free end a stationary gripper-jaw'Z", a pivoted gripper-jaw Z5, and a thread-guide Z. Secured to the pivoted jaw Z5 is an arm Z3, provided at its free end with a slot which is engaged by a pin Z11 on the end of the lever Z2. The pivoted jaw is also provided with a blade Z, which coacts with the lower edge'of the stationary jaw in severing the thread. The arm Z7 is pivoted on a stud ZJ, secured to the arm K, and is prevented from easy rotation by the frictionwasher Zw, forced against its upper face by the spring Z13.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: During rotary knitting the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the eXtra thread passes through the guides Zu Z12 and through the slot 71:7 in the cap 765 and has its end held between the jaws Z'1 -Then the knitting-machine is changed from rotary to reciprocating knitting to knit the heel or toe, the shaftL is rocked and the parts are moved into the position shown in Fig. 2. The first movement of the shaft L swings the lever Z2 on its pivot, thus opening the gripper-jaw Z1 and releasing the end of the extra thread, and continued movement of the shaft L brings the lever Z2 into engagement with a lug Z8 on the arm Z7 and forces said arm into the position shown in Fig. 2, with the open gripper-jaws projecting into the cap ZJ through the slot in its periphery and on each side of the extra thread. During this movement of the arm Z7 the guide Z12 has given up the slack held between the guide Z14 and the slot Ze?. Meanwhile the segment L' has turned the tube Zr; one or more revolutions, and this motion has been transmitted to the cap Zu by means of friction on spring Z110, secured to the flange k1 and bearing against iiange Zcl. As the cap revolves the end of the slot 707 carries the extra thread into engagement with and wraps it around the main thread, and the two threads pass to the needles together, the extra thread being free to be drawn along by its engagement with the main thread by reason of the slack given up by guide Z1. It will be noted that the extra thread passes beneath the main thread in the V-shaped groove of pin Z22 and that thus the feed of the extra thread is insured. vWhen the knitting-machine is changed from reciprocating to rotary knitting, the rod L is returned to the position shown in Fig. l. This movement of the rod and segment L' does not move the cap Zs'r, as it is held from rotation by the pawl Z111, which engages a notch in the liange Za. This reverse movement of the rod L iirst swings the lever Z2 on its pivot, thus closing the jaw Z5 to sever and grip the extra thread. After the jaws Z1 Z5 are closed, further movement of the lever Z2 carries the arm Z7 and the parts carried thereby into the position shown in 'Fig'. 1, the jaws Z'i Z5 and the guide Z12 drawing off thread from the extra thread-bobbin.

In Fig. L is shown a modilied and preferred form of gripper-jaw. In this form the active face of jaw Z'i is provided with a groove Z1, and a spring Z15 is secured to said jaw and normally projects beyond said active face, but is forced into the groove by the action of the jaw Z5 in gripping the thread. As the jaw Zcloses, the thread is iirst held with a yielding pressure between the spring Z1 and said jaw, then severed, and linally firmly held between the jaws Z4 Z5. It will thus be seen that there is no liability that the end of the thread will escape from between the jaws after its severance and before the jaws are fully closed. The auxiliary yielding gripper-face may be applied to either the jaw Z1 or to the jaw Z5, and the blade ZG may be carried by either jaw.

With the construction above described it will be seen that the extra thread is carried into engagement with and wound one or more times about the main thread, and thus its accurate insertion insured, and that said extra thread is held out of engagement with the main thread after its withdrawal and until it is to be again inserted.

W'hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure b y Letters Patent, is-

1. In an extra-thread mechanism, the combination with a. guide for the main thread, of a thread -holder for the extra thread, and means for moving said thread-holder to and from the main thread, a thread-engaging device and means for moving said thread-engaging device around the main thread, substantially as described.

2. In an extra-thread mechanism, the combination with a guide for the main thread, a gripper for gripping the extra thread, means for moving said gripper toward and away from the main thread, a thread-engaging device, and means for rotating' said thread-engaging device around the main thread, substantially as described.

3. In an extra-thread mechanism, the combination with a guide for the main thread, a combined cutter and gripper for severing and gripping the extra thread, a thread-engaging device and means for rotating said threadengaging device around said main thread, substantially as described.

4. In an extra-thread mechanism, the combination with an oscillating tube provided with a passage at its axis, of a cap at the end of said tube and frictionally engaging the same, a radial slot'in the end of the cap, and means for preventing the rotation of the cap in one direction, substantially as described.

In an extra-thread mechanism, the combination with a guide for the main thread, a rotary carrier for the extra thread, a holder for the extra thread, means for moving said holder to draw oii and give up slack thread, and means for severing the extra thread, substantially as described.

6. In an extra-thread mechanism, a combined cutter and gripper consisting of two coacting gripping-jaws provided with cutting edges, one of said jaws being provided with an auxiliary yielding gripping-face, substantially as described.

7. In an extra-thread mechanism, a gripper consisting of a stationary gripper jaw, a groove therein, a spring projecting from said groove, but adapted to be forced back therein, and a movable gripper-jaw, substantially as described.

8. An extra-thread mechanism, comprising a longitudinal guide for the main thread, an arm carrying a gripper, means for opening and closing the gripper and swinging the arm substantially at right angles to the said guide and means for severing the extra thread, substantially as described.

9. An extra-thread mechanism, comprising a longitudinal guide for the main thread, a combined cutter and gripper, consisting of TOO IIO

two jaws provided with cutting edges, and means for moving said cutter and gripper substantially at right angles to said guide, substantially as described.

l0. In an eXtra-thread mechanism, the combination with a pivoted arm Carrying a stationary gripping-jaw of a jaw pivoted to said arm, a lever pivoted to said arm and engaging said jaw, a rock-arm connected to said lever, a projection on said arm in the path of IO said lever, and means for rocking said rockarm, substantially as described.

JAMES EQROVE. Witnesses: v

WV. H. THURsToN, IRA L. FISH. 

